''Aryana'' is a 2012 Philippine fantasy drama television series starring

Ella Cruz Gabriela Annjane Umali Cruz (; born August 17, 1996) and is professionally known as Ella Cruz, is a Filipino actress, product endorser, host, commercial & promotional model, and dancer. She played the title character in the 2012 fantasy dra ...

in her first leading role. The series premiered on

ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Philippine commercial broadcast network that serves as the flagship property of ABS-CBN Corporation, a company unde ...

's ''Primetime Bida'' evening block from May 7, 2012 to January 25, 2013, replacing '' Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin'' and was replaced by '' Kahit Konting Pagtingin''.

Overview

Synopsis

''Aryana'' narrates the journey of a girl as she struggles in the awkward but exciting adolescent stage while trying to escape her inevitable destiny as a

mermaid In folklore, a mermaid is an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. Mermaids are sometimes ass ...

on her fourteenth birthday. Two mothers from entirely different worlds play major roles in the story. Ofelia is a human, who struggles for the acceptance of her mother-in-law, and hopes that with the birth of her daughter she will gain the happiness of her husband's family. Neptuna, an adult mermaid with a bright orange-and-gold scaly fish tail whose pure and strong motherly love for her daughter, Perlita, knows no bounds and will do anything to make sure she is safe and happy. Perlita was fascinated with humans and dreams of living happily with them, often going near the seashore to watch the humans. She even once stole the mystical

pearl A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carb ...

that can transform a mermaid into a human and back at will. Unfortunately, when she went near the seashore to watch humans who were playing with firecrackers, a drunken villager carried a dynamite. Victor, Ofelia's husband, confronts him and unknowingly throws the dynamite into the part of the sea where Perlita was hiding. Neptuna went to warn her daughter, but was not able to make it in time. Thus, she saw the death of her dearly beloved daughter and angrily promises to do everything she can to make Victor and Ofelia feel the intense pain and sorrow of losing their own beloved daughter. Ofelia and Victor's child, whom they named Aryana, was then born. As Ofelia was hoping for, she gained the acceptance of her mother-in-law. During Aryana's baptismal celebration, Neptuna (as a human woman) steals newborn Ayrana, raising her as her own daughter for a while until she discovered that she cannot make Aryana a complete mermaid unless her mother gives her to her willingly. The presumed lost of their daughter caused Victor and Ofelia's family to break up. Neptuna reluctantly gave Aryana back to Ofelia with the agreement that on Aryana's fourteenth birthday she must give her back to her. Ofelia desperately accepts, and with no intention of giving her daughter back, she runs away from their seaside village and goes to the urban city to forget about the mermaid curse on her daughter, just as Neptuna thought she would. Every day, Ofelia gets a reminder that her daughter is and will forever belong to the sea when she turns fourteen. Aryana, who does not know that she is forever cursed to become a mermaid, lives out her dream of being a professional swimmer or dancer; unaware of her inherent abilities over water. As she faces her fate of becoming a mermaid, Aryana is torn between choosing the sea and the surface world of humans where her heart belongs.

Cast and characters

Main cast

as Aryana Capuyao-Mendez *

Francis Magundayao Francis Elmer Cabalteja Magundayao (born May 14, 1999) is a Filipino people, Filipino actor and commercial model. He was first known as Iking in the series, ''Darna (2005 TV series), Darna''. He is also known for portraying young Travis (adult ...

as Adrian "Ian" Alejandro *

Paul Salas Paul Andre Solinap Salas (born April 16, 1998), popularly known by his stage name Paul Salas, is a Filipino actor, model, and vlogger. Early life He is the eldest son of Michelle Solinap and Universal Motion dancer Jim Salas. He graduated fro ...

as Marlon Salvador * Dominic Roque as Hubert Francisco *Michelle Vito as Megan Cervantes-Mendez

Supporting cast

Pokwang Marietta Subong (born August 27, 1970), known professionally as Pokwang, is a Filipino comedian, actress, television host and singer. She started in a reality show on ABS-CBN and subsequently appeared in dramas and sitcoms of the network. She a ...

as Ofelia Capuyao-Mendez *

Tonton Gutierrez Eduardo Antonio Winsett Gutierrez, Jr. (born March 20, 1968), professionally known as Tonton Gutierrez, is a Filipino film and television actor best known for his role as Governor Eduardo Buenavista in the original hit teleserye ''Pangako Sa ...

as Victor Mendez *

Desiree del Valle Desirée Lois del Valle Dunham-Labrusca (born May 28, 1982), better known by her screen name Desiree del Valle, is a Filipina actress born from an Irish American father named Clois H. Dunham and a Filipino mother Lourdes del Valle from Lopez, ...

as Neptuna * G. Toengi as Stella Cervantes *

Laurice Guillen Laurice Ilagan Guillen-Feleo (born January 31, 1947) is a Filipino actress, film and television director, and college professor. Early life and acting career Guillen studied at St. Theresa's College, Cebu City, earned an AB English degree before ...

as Elnora Mendez *

Bianca Manalo Pamela Bianca Ramos Manalo (born November 28, 1987) is a Filipina actress and beauty pageant titleholder. She was the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2009 winner, and represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2009, but she was unplaced. In ...

as Carlina Suarez *

Tetchie Agbayani Visitacion Parado (born July 2, 1961), better known by her screen name Tetchie Agbayani, is a Filipina movie and television actress, Mutya ng Pilipinas, psychology instructor and ''Playboy'' model. She appeared in a regular issue of German '' ...

as Reyna Yasmin *

Neil Coleta Mark Neilson Mañosca Coleta (born August 4, 1991), popularly known as Neil Coleta, is a Filipino actor and TV host. He appeared in the TV series Growing Up and 100 Days to Heaven. Personal life Coleta graduated from Adamson University. In ...

as Andoy Capuyao *

Lotlot de Leon Charlotte Jennifer Villamayor de Leon El Soury (born February 16, 1971), known professionally as Lotlot de Leon, is a Filipino actress. Career She was a member of '' That's Entertainment'', along with Ramon "Monching" Christopher as her love-t ...

as Rosita Salvador *

Louise Abuel Louise Darnell Alba Abuel (born December 27, 2003) is a Filipino teen actor and commercial model. He first appeared as Kevin Delgado in the television series ''100 Days to Heaven'', Young Jao in Princess and I, Pikoy in ''Juan dela Cruz'', and ...

as Miko Salvador *David Chua as Melvin Abad *

Eunice Lagusad Eunice Michaella Lagusad (; born May 18, 1998) is a Filipino actress and vlogger. She is popularly known as Charming, since playing the character Charming in the hit drama series ''Bakekang''. She is currently a freelance actress but is mostly ...

as Elizabeth "Bebet" Teves *Mel Kimura as Sylvia "Ibiang" Francisco *Andre Tiangco as Anton *

Celine Lim ''Star Circle Quest'' (SCQ) is a reality-based talent competition which premiered on March 1, 2004 locally on ABS-CBN and internationally through The Filipino Channel. It features at least 10 contestants called "questors" will have to undergo tale ...

as Trisha Reyes *

Noemi Oineza Noemi Oineza (born October 7, 1999) is a Filipino actress and model. She is best known for her role as Lottie in ''Princess Sarah''. She is also a child star on '' Goin' Bulilit''. Later, she played villainous roles in ''Wansapanataym ''Wans ...

as Chelsea Montes *Vanjo Cuenca as Aries Ocampo *Lander Vera Perez as Rick Alejandro *Richard Quan as Jason Cervantes *Michael Conan as Allan *

Boom Labrusca Anthony "Boom" Labrusca (; born December 2, 1976) is a Filipino character actor and model. Recent career In October 2010, he started at hosting ''Usapang Lalake'' on Studio 23 with Aran Sese, Jobert Austria and Alex Calleja. Personal life Lab ...

as Tilapio *Chokoleit as Dikya *Marvin Yap as Pla Pla *Badjie Mortiz as Bisugo

Guest cast

*Dexie Daulat as young Aryana *Elijah Magundayao as young Ian *Kristoff Meneses as young Marlon *Maliksi Morales as young Andoy *Alyanna Angeles as young Megan *Quintin Alianza as young Melvin *

Carlo Lacana Carlo Lacana (born November 11, 1998) is a Philippines, Filipino Actor, actor. Career Lacana is a child actor in Laoag, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Norte Province, who started his career with commercial television and print ads. His fir ...

as teenage Andoy *Yong An Chiu as teenage Melvin *

Jane Oineza Elizabeth Jane Urbano Oineza (born July 22, 1996), better known as Jane Oineza, is a Filipino actress, commercial model and singer. A former child star of ''Goin' Bulilit'', she gained local relativity on '' Pinoy Big Brother: All In''. Oineza ...

as Perlita *Edgar Sandalo as Badong *Kurt Del Rosario as Ruben

Production

In an interview on August 13, 2012, Ella Cruz announced the extension of the hit series until January 2013 due to its success on its timeslot. It was part of the 2012 primetime block which includes '' Princess and I'', '' Walang Hanggan'', ''

Ina, Kapatid, Anak Ina, Kapatid, Anak may refer to : * ''Ina, Kapatid, Anak'', a 1979 film directed by Lino Brocka Catalino Ortiz Brocka (April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991) was a Filipino film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and signif ...

'' and ''

Kahit Puso'y Masugatan ''Kahit Puso'y Masugatan'' (International title: ''Hearts on Fire'' / ) is a 2012 Philippine melodrama television series directed by Wenn V. Deramas, starring Iza Calzado, Andi Eigenmann, Jake Cuenca and Gabby Concepcion. The series was aired on ...

''. It airs at 5:45 pm before its nightly news program ''

TV Patrol ''TV Patrol'' is a Philippine television newscast produced by ABS-CBN News. It premiered on March 2, 1987, at the former ABS-CBN television network, replacing ''Balita Ngayon''. ''TV Patrol'' is the flagship national newscast of the network a ...

'', and internationally on TFC.

References

External links

* * * {{Philippine Mermaids ABS-CBN drama series Television series by Dreamscape Entertainment Television 2012 Philippine television series debuts 2013 Philippine television series endings Fantaserye and telefantasya Mermaids in television Philippine teen drama television series Filipino-language television shows Television shows set in the Philippines Television series about teenagers